Young Writers Project: Inspiration & Photo 3

Jan. 11, 2014

Aliya Schneider/Rutland High School

Prompt: Inspiration

Gentle tugBy Duncan ShefferGrade 11, Burlington High School

I feel a gentle tap, tap-tapping at my shoulder,a showing of things unknown, pointing onwardto new horizons, and places to go and see.Turning, I walk onward to the new places unseen,untouched by the likes of people like me.I feel a gentle tug, a turning towards the tug,a beckoning to go and see, to watch and feel,to be shown what is wondrous and whatcannot be compared to the wonderful and fantastic.I, who walk, see the world of wonder.I notice a soft pushing, an urgent summons,sending me towards a new path to follow.New passions take hold and wonder sinks in,making a want and thirst for a newfound obsession,carving a new memory, a new store of knowledge.

The little thingsBy Chandler BrandesGrade 11, South Burlington High School

Itís the little things in life that inspire me. Itís the friendly wave hello, the laugh of a friend, and the encouragement from a teammate that make me aspire to be a better person, a better student, a better athlete. Simply enjoying the small things in life makes you realize how lucky you truly are. Inspiration, no matter where it comes from, allows new doors to be opened, to break down barriers into a world of endless possibilities. Itís amazing the implausible things we can find in something so simple. Inspiration is all around us, everywhere we look. All we have to do is open our eyes and let the wonder seep in.

Photo 3

Swiftly foreverBy Morgan LiskaGrade 8, Edmunds Middle School

My inspiration is Taylor Swift. People ask me all the time why I love Taylor Swift so much, and until recently I didnít know the answer either. Then I thought when I was going through rough, confusing, and hate-filled times, I always listened to her music. Never once has it not gotten my spirits up, her blissful, sweet, amazing songs, all written by herself. The way that Taylor Swift treats people is inspirational; she is the most selfless person I have heard of. She never got treated like that, yet she loves to share her warm, graceful, nice personality with every person she meets. She never gave up on her dream, and that, in itself, is inspiring. When she was first getting into the music industry she was rejected, spit at, and shunned, but she never gave up. Taylor Swift is fearless, sassy, and witty ... Read the complete story at youngwritersproject.org.

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Garden gnomesBy Kat TurnbullGrade 8, Edmunds Middle School

The soldiers aim and fire their weapons, cringing at the backfire. Someone goes down on the other side, and the ones behind the barricade share a smile as they reload their guns. Petals tiptoe to the ground as the trigger bounces back and forth.

Winterís warBy Charlotte KhamneiGrade 7, Edmunds Middle School

ďThe queen! Sheís coming!Ē says my partner, Codiac, as he ducks down, blocking a gale of frost.ďHer army is too strong! Weíll never make it,Ē I say, losing all hope. I look around and realize that Codiac and I are the last ones. Her army of frost is attacking harder and harder by the second. Codiac and I do our routines that Sergeant Johnny Jump-up taught us in order to fight Queen Hiver. Codiac just barely misses a gun shot of ice. The ice bullet destroys the flower of his gun, causing it to freeze and shatter on the cold, hard ground. He falls to the ground from the force of the bullet, drops his stem, and stares into my eyes. The way he looks into my eyes as he lays on the frosted ground covered in broken trees and crisp white snow makes me feel like thereís a grenade in my stomach, getting ready to explode.I turn to the harsh winds, squint trying to see through the iced wind; I spy Queen Hiverís face that looks like itís made out of crystals. Itís carved like an ice sculpture. It is carved with such angles. Her eyes are like turquoise jewels that are complemented with snowflake eyelashes.Codiac starts to get up, shielding himself with his stem. I am running out of time. She is getting ready to fire. I aim, squinting with one eye, locking her gaze with the other. All I can hear are the thoughts in my head and the screams of winter. Itís up to me now. I can feel Codiac giving me one last look. Out of the corner of my eye, I can tell his mouth is slightly open as if he is trying to say something as he blocks harsh winds. I focus my eyes one more time. I take my shot. The winds stop. The snow starts to melt and the flowers start to pop up.Itís spring, ending the once never-ending winter.